“McStrike” against workplace discrimination

A march is scheduled to take place on 4 September in London, coinciding with strikes in a number of British cities. The protest aims to defend the rights of employees at the McDonald’s chain.

Juanjo Andrés Cuervo

Hospitality is undoubtedly one of the lowest-paid professions in the United Kingdom. In fact, many companies pay their employees the country’s minimum wage, despite the fact that they have to serve belligerent customers and work long hours in an environment that is harmful for workers.

Meanwhile, zero-hours contracts are also making an impression on the sector. Under such contracts, employees only work if their company needs them, and this prevents workers from earning a fixed salary that would enable them to plan for the future.

The “McStrike” demonstration was planned in response to this wide array of problems, with the aim of defending workers at the McDonald’s chain. The protest will focus on ending mistreatment and zero-hours contracts, as well as securing a wage equivalent to £10 per hour.

The idea for the strike first gained traction in Crayford and Cambridge, with McDonald’s employees in both regions having reported receiving constant mistreatment.

As a matter of fact, 95.7% of the chain’s staff members working in these two British regions have indicated that they intend to attend the strike.

On the same day, an itinerary will begin at SOAS University in London, ending at the iconic King’s Cross station, which houses two McDonald’s restaurants.

The UK capital will also witness a march starting from the Houses of Parliament, led by Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.

Further protests will take place in other British cities including Manchester, Cardiff, Sheffield and Birmingham.

Global protests

All of these demonstrations have been organised by the “Fast Food Rights” campaign, which emerged in response to movements that began in the United States and which aim to secure a wage equivalent to $15 per hour for jobs of this nature.

The movement has inspired hundreds of thousands of people working in hospitality to seek a decent wage, a union to represent them and the end of the discrimination they suffer in the workplace.